Home Theater Receiver Power Ratings

[Hermann]

Way back then, during the time of Audio Review and Stereo Review magazines I had one of the more original NAD power amps with the massive headroom. I knew the Carver name VERY well for those same qualities.
GOD those were the days, I feel old saying that but todays culture is happy with "good enough" and I guess that is ok but I REALLY MISS the higher end audio stores and looking at the equipment. Everything is so generic today. Gosh even the brands back then, the names that survived have been folded into corporations in name only.

This was the AMP I had, some years later I also bought a Onkyo straight power amp.

NAD 2200 Vintage Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of a refurbished and upgraded NAD 2200 stereo amplifier. It was bought by a member, sent to QuirkAudio to be fully updated and then loaned to me. The work that Peter has done is exemplary. The inside looks brand new! I have repaired hundreds of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I know some in here have McIntosh equipment and know that really was and most likely still is the world standard. I also used to admire Bryston too, oh heck there were so many awesome companies out there at the time. I was younger then and well, price did matter.

(I hint I ran into the corroded relay issue but moved onto a Onkyo straight amp years later when it happened rather than repair it)
But wow, that NAD powered some really good parties *LOL*

Now? I have a JVC soundbar, how sad and most music is through my Bose headphones or earbuds and if that isnt bad enough, bluetooth ones at that.

DO you know some of my favorite speakers was a small Boston Acoustics A40 but I was in an apartment at the time. Once in the house the NAD fried them and moved to Mission speakers (forgot the model) they could handle the power but if I remember correctly wasnt crazy about the sound, which then I moved onto Paradigm, I had and used those Paradigms for over two decades (maybe 3) which ultimately were the front left and right channel of a home entertainment system and just got rid of them last Nov when we moved. . Most my life, was budget audiophile stuff but in todays world it doesnt exist anymore or maybe it does and I just lost interest.

In 2009 I purchased a Harmon Kardon Receiver that was released in 2005. It is one of the last This receiver has a wonderful warmth and is so precise in how it makes my late wife's Bose 501's sound incredible. In KC the Univ of MO-KC operates a superbly maintained 100,000 watt FM station. The quality of their evening music broadcasts is truly only limited by the source material. A station like this is indeed a rarity these days, as they use no compression and do not try to be the loudest station on the dial. The Bose 501's are positioned correctly, in the corner of the room about 8 inches from the wall, as Bose intended. This amp and speaker combo matches well with my Dual 1219 with Shure M91 with various styli. Warm, detailed and non-harsh listening for hours as I do stack records on the Dual. No grief please.

 

[OVERKILL]

Way back then, during the time of Audio Review and Stereo Review magazines I had one of the more original NAD power amps with the massive headroom. I knew the Carver name VERY well for those same qualities.
GOD those were the days, I feel old saying that but todays culture is happy with "good enough" and I guess that is ok but I REALLY MISS the higher end audio stores and looking at the equipment. Everything is so generic today. Gosh even the brands back then, the names that survived have been folded into corporations in name only.

Eh, some of them still exist, but they are expensive (McIntosh, Bryston, PS Audio, Luxman, Anthem (which is now Canadian again)...etc)

I know some in here have McIntosh equipment and know that really was and most likely still is the world standard. I also used to admire Bryston too, oh heck there were so many awesome companies out there at the time. I was younger then and well, price did matter.

Yeah, @UncleDave has McIntosh, I've got an older Bryston unit, but looking to expand that. They are local to me, and I like to support that whenever possible.

DO you know some of my favorite speakers was a small Boston Acoustics A40 but I was in an apartment at the time. Once in the house the NAD fried them and moved to Mission speakers (forgot the model) they could handle the power but if I remember correctly wasnt crazy about the sound, which then I moved onto Paradigm, I had and used those Paradigms for over two decades (maybe 3) which ultimately were the front left and right channel of a home entertainment system and just got rid of them last Nov when we moved. . Most my life, was budget audiophile stuff but in todays world it doesnt exist anymore or maybe it does and I just lost interest.

It definitely still exists, but you do have to spend a reasonable amount of coin, the cost of entry isn't super low, even if you are buying used stuff on AudioMart.

 

[Cujet]

I looked at the prices, YIKES! $7,500 for a 300WPC amp. I do have all sorts of component stuff, sitting in storage. I have 3ea Crestron 16 channel 60W amps, that can bridge a couple of channels for 200W. But those are difficult to deal with. Also have an old Adcom 100WPC stereo amp. It is a tweeter blowing thing. Couple of DAC units, preamps and so on.

None of which really play together, or come on and work the way I need.

Unplugging my Yamaha for an hour seems to have it back working, at least for now. Clearly, the new Yamaha stuff at BestBuy is lightweight consumer grade stuff. Mine is old school 125WPC, and 240 into 4 ohms. Rated from 20 to 20KHz. It's not ultra powerful, but at least it does not clip to the point where the tweeters blow, like the Adcom.

 

[Hermann]

I looked at the prices, YIKES! $7,500 for a 300WPC amp.

The Carver M500t I purchased about 12 years ago that was fully restored at a specialist. The seller on an Audio forum sold it to me for $365 to get his wife off his case. My VPI Traveler was obtained in a marital "you better sell "that if you want a new turntable. I paid $600 dollars for a 18 month old $1295 turntable which has been bulletproof for 10+ years. In upper mid priced stuff, used is the way to go IMO.

 

[OVERKILL]

I looked at the prices, YIKES! $7,500 for a 300WPC amp. I do have all sorts of component stuff, sitting in storage. I have 3ea Crestron 16 channel 60W amps, that can bridge a couple of channels for 200W. But those are difficult to deal with. Also have an old Adcom 100WPC stereo amp. It is a tweeter blowing thing. Couple of DAC units, preamps and so on.

None of which really play together, or come on and work the way I need.

Unplugging my Yamaha for an hour seems to have it back working, at least for now. Clearly, the new Yamaha stuff at BestBuy is lightweight consumer grade stuff. Mine is old school 125WPC, and 240 into 4 ohms. Rated from 20 to 20KHz. It's not ultra powerful, but at least it does not clip to the point where the tweeters blow, like the Adcom.

Check AudioMart, you can often find good deals on some excellent equipment.

 

[OVERKILL]

I looked at the prices, YIKES! $7,500 for a 300WPC amp. I do have all sorts of component stuff, sitting in storage. I have 3ea Crestron 16 channel 60W amps, that can bridge a couple of channels for 200W. But those are difficult to deal with. Also have an old Adcom 100WPC stereo amp. It is a tweeter blowing thing. Couple of DAC units, preamps and so on.

None of which really play together, or come on and work the way I need.

Unplugging my Yamaha for an hour seems to have it back working, at least for now. Clearly, the new Yamaha stuff at BestBuy is lightweight consumer grade stuff. Mine is old school 125WPC, and 240 into 4 ohms. Rated from 20 to 20KHz. It's not ultra powerful, but at least it does not clip to the point where the tweeters blow, like the Adcom.

Here's a Bryston 4B SST2 in your neck of the woods for $1,500:
Bryston power amp 4bsst2 For Sale - US Audio Mart

There is also this pair of 7B ST Pro monoblocks if you wanted to really spice things up, but they are old enough that they don't have a trigger, so you'd need to use something else as an intermediary (which is totally doable with a Panamax power conditioner, which has a remote trigger).
Pair of Bryston 7B-ST Pro Version Amps Photo #4671316 - US Audio Mart

 

[hemioiler]

I have one of their amps in my PC setup. I like it fine, although it does take about 5 minutes to warm up - sounds distorted until then. I guess Emotiva didn't bother to include temperature compensation.

Some of their amps don't measure as well as amps from other companies, but they do provide gobs of power:

Emotiva XPA-DR2 Review (Stereo Power Amplifier)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Emotiva XPA-DR2 "differential" power amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1699 from the company direct. This thing a beast both in size and weight: This, despite usage of switchmode power supply to keep the "weight...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The Emotiva equation has always been value; what do you get for what do you pay, and I believe they still have one of the best value equations out there. Schiit audio being another great brand that works the same way. I haven't heard their recent stuff, haven't had a need to since I moved to headphones for the most part and just have two of the original mini-x's in bi-amp config, nothing really special anymore.

But when I was active there they had just released their XPRs, and the XPA-1's(?) were still considered incredible buys with the XPA's measuring very well. Then they switched over to a new linear power supply that put people in a tizzy, I never followed them much beyond that point.

It's not just the amount of power they provide, its that its clean power. Even the tiny mini's I run are cleaner than the yamaha and marantz home theatre receiver stuff I used to run, though I did like the marantz signature sound.

The biggest issue I had with Emotiva was their unstable product line. I didn't have money back then to just buy all at once, so you start in pieces but by the time I was ready to pick up the next piece the product line was discontinued. Kind of infuriating, but that's the price you pay.

 

[Quattro Pete]

It's not just the amount of power they provide, its that its clean power.

The one I linked to above (XPA-DR2) did not provide clean power at all.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

It seems the power ratings for HT receivers has changed again. The last time I bought an HT receiver, the power rating was given for all channels driven. For example, a 5.1 receiver would have the power rating listed as 75 WRMS per channel x 5 channels. Now the rating for a 5.1 is listed as 75 WRMS x 2 channels. No power rating is given for 5 channels. So how is person supposed to know what the power is for all 5 channels? It's like every time they change the way a unit is rated, it give's manufacturers more leeway to lie, or at the very least, mislead consumers...I can still remember when the rating system was given as 75 WRMS, all channels driven from 20 to 20K Hz at < .008% THD. I guess this rating system didn't give them any wiggle room to cheat consumers...

I noticed the same thing… and I also found some fine print on my Denon, paraphrased as: “at least 80% of rated power delivered to all channels simultaneously”… IOW, 75x2 becomes roughly 55x7.

I’ve always wondered (and am by no means an amplifier designer or builder), why one wouldn’t transform the power up to maybe 1kV before feeding the circuitry, and then current would be greatly reduced, the amp would run cooler, and there would be more headroom because you could then make say 1000W at 1A, vs roughly 8.5A on 120V.

I’m sure consumer safety is a big factor, but there have to be ways you could protect the circuit from powering up if the guts were exposed. And yes, I know, all of the other components would have to be similarly uprated, which increases cost and complexity.

Everything is a balance of performance and features to hit a given price point, and these days it just seems like so many people are “satisfied” with a portable battery-powered Bluetooth speaker that likely struggles to make a clean 6W, so manufacturers say, “fine! We’ll make a semi-sucky product for about $23 in parts, spend $100k on product placement advertising, and charge you $150 for it!”

 

[hemioiler]

The one I linked to above (XPA-DR2) did not provide clean power at all.

I'm not familiar with that model at all, probably the newer stuff. Here is a review of the XPA-1 which is what really built their reputation:

Emotiva XPA-1 Monoblock Power Amplifier - HomeTheaterHifi.com

ADDENDUM - 4/1/09 I (JEJ) was so impressed with Chris' review of the XPA-1 (published in January, 2009), I asked Emotiva to send me one so I could run some of my own tests. I borrowed a different power amplifier from a friend that cost more than 6 times the price of the XPA-1, which I will call...

hometheaterhifi.com

 

[#18FAN]

Me I'm just looking at a Pass INT60 for a end game amp.

 

[hemioiler]

Me I'm just looking at a Pass INT60 for a end game amp.

I dismantled my setup for the most part and use a simple DAC and a pair of sennheisers 99% of the time now. Audio quality has gone up, price has gone down. The biggest weakspot in my system is always going to be the room in my house as I don't have the opportunity to tame the reflections, nor do I want to fuss with EQ systems etc. Wearing headphones removes all that completely, they're not perfect either but overall I'm happier with this result and I wish I would have saved money doing this right from the start. And now I'm not always looking for the next thing either trying to improve it.

 

[grampi]

I noticed the same thing… and I also found some fine print on my Denon, paraphrased as: “at least 80% of rated power delivered to all channels simultaneously”… IOW, 75x2 becomes roughly 55x7.

I’ve always wondered (and am by no means an amplifier designer or builder), why one wouldn’t transform the power up to maybe 1kV before feeding the circuitry, and then current would be greatly reduced, the amp would run cooler, and there would be more headroom because you could then make say 1000W at 1A, vs roughly 8.5A on 120V.

I’m sure consumer safety is a big factor, but there have to be ways you could protect the circuit from powering up if the guts were exposed. And yes, I know, all of the other components would have to be similarly uprated, which increases cost and complexity.

Everything is a balance of performance and features to hit a given price point, and these days it just seems like so many people are “satisfied” with a portable battery-powered Bluetooth speaker that likely struggles to make a clean 6W, so manufacturers say, “fine! We’ll make a semi-sucky product for about $23 in parts, spend $100k on product placement advertising, and charge you $150 for it!”

Yes, we definitely live in a society now that believes convenience far outweighs quality. Audio products have suffered for it...

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The one I linked to above (XPA-DR2) did not provide clean power at all.

Schiit and Emotiva internet darlings only imo. Beware the huckster in sheep's skin ****ing with faint praise


B&K, conrad-johnson, VTL, FORTE, CREEK, SUMO, Mondial and APT had some decent entry level stuff long ago

It appears the Brits are still bringing some good stuff, e.g: rega io

I haven't yet had a listen.

 

[MVAR]

Here's a Bryston 4B SST2 in your neck of the woods for $1,500:
Bryston power amp 4bsst2 For Sale - US Audio Mart

There is also this pair of 7B ST Pro monoblocks if you wanted to really spice things up, but they are old enough that they don't have a trigger, so you'd need to use something else as an intermediary (which is totally doable with a Panamax power conditioner, which has a remote trigger).
Pair of Bryston 7B-ST Pro Version Amps Photo #4671316 - US Audio Mart

Don’t sleep on a used B&K or an ATI amp. Both very solid products

 

[Cujet]

Thanks for the amp suggestions. I'm generally not a huge fan of used electronics. Who knows how many lightning strikes the thing suffered....

Still thinking about a modern, high powered receiver. There is no question that convivence is a factor. Mama won't use it otherwise.

 

[97prizm]

I can't wait to get my own place and have a home theater setup. I have three different home recievers that I've been given over the years, unfortunately none with hdmi inputs. I'd love to have an IMAX setup 256 inch 8k Samsung oled tv with 8.2 surround sound.

Got rid of my PIONEER Elite receiver and all my speakers when we bought our Sony 75" HDTV, hated all the clutter, bought the JBL 5.1 sound bar and couldn't be happier, rated at 550w with a 10" sub.

JBL Bar 5.1 Surround | 5.1 channel soundbar with MultiBeam™ Sound Technology

The impressive JBL Bar 5.1 Surround delivers the ultimate home cinematic experience. Bring viewing to life with 550 Watts of power and a 10’’ subwoofer.

www.jbl.com

 

[UncleDave]

Yes, we definitely live in a society now that believes convenience far outweighs quality. Audio products have suffered for it...

In the last 30 years most everything has moved to " little". Tiny speakers small amps.
Part of it is the move to ever smaller housing and rooms where you just dont have the space for large speakers and a rack of components.

Really good audio stoped being aspirational and good enough rules the day.
Outside of a theater most younger people have never heard powerful audio.

It's always fun when you fire up " the old stuff" and show the whippersnappers how it's done.

 

[hemioiler]

In the last 30 years most everything has moved to " little". Tiny speakers small amps.
Part of it is the move to ever smaller housing and rooms where you just dont have the space for large speakers and a rack of components.

Really good audio stoped being aspirational and good enough rules the day.
Outside of a theater most younger people have never heard powerful audio.

It's always fun when you fire up " the old stuff" and show the whippersnappers how it's done.

Not going to lie, I have always wanted to own a good tube amp, even if it's a modern one. I know they distort quickly compared to good solid state amps, but it seems to be a warmer, more pleasing sound. One day.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Not going to lie, I have always wanted to own a good tube amp, even if it's a modern one. I know they distort quickly compared to good solid state amps, but it seems to be a warmer, more pleasing sound. One day.

I worked at Bell labs where we invented and developed the transistor - also LP Stereo records and moving picture sound (Westrex)

A bipolar transistor is a switch and inherently non linear, a tube acts more like a FET.

The warmth you might hear with tubes is mainly (impedance matching) output transformer non linearities. Not the vacuum tube device. You will find a proper tube pre-amp or an OTL tube amp quite linear.

High power Radio broadcast transmission and oither critical infrastructure remained vacuum tubes decades into the transistor age. Many remain.

Tube power amps can be nice - but also fussy with their 300-350V DC supplies.

I prefer a moderate powered (20-30w) Class- A vFET or IGBT output device amp.

30 watt Pioneer Series 20 M22 - one of my favourites: